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Queen Elizabeth St. Peter's Cathedral Adelaide 1981
Posted by Crowne on June 11, 2021, 8:07 pm
I'm finding the Getty Images photos below confusing for a number of different reasons. I've not seen the brooch before and I can't think of any description of a jewel that it fits. Perhaps it is an Australian gift I'm not aware of? Could the central bit be an opal, but I can't even guess what the outer section might be made of!
I can't find any photos on other photo websites as it would be great to have a coloured one! The photos are dated 11th October 1981 leaving St. Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide. They seem to be photos of other photos so perhaps the date isn't accurate, although the 11th Oct 1981 was the last full day in Australia before the Queen left for New Zealand.
Does anyone know anything or has any suggestions about these photos, this event, or the brooch?
Re: Queen Elizabeth St. Peter's Cathedral Adelaide 1981
Thank you for posting those interesting photos Crowne. Rather than a brooch I think that the Queen is seen wearing the Star of the Order of Australia, which was established in 1975, here. It is a rather "weird"-looking "Star" and worn this high up on the dress could easily be seen as a brooch. What do you think?
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I'm finding the Getty Images photos below confusing for a number of different reasons. I've not seen the brooch before and I can't think of any description of a jewel that it fits. Perhaps it is an Australian gift I'm not aware of? Could the central bit be an opal, but I can't even guess what the outer section might be made of!
I can't find any photos on other photo websites as it would be great to have a coloured one! The photos are dated 11th October 1981 leaving St. Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide. They seem to be photos of other photos so perhaps the date isn't accurate, although the 11th Oct 1981 was the last full day in Australia before the Queen left for New Zealand.
Does anyone know anything or has any suggestions about these photos, this event, or the brooch?
My initial reaction too was that it was the Order of Australia …. but then I started looking at the brooch more closely.
All of the Order depictions that I can see have a St Edward’s crown surmounted either on top of the disc or above the central ring (the ring often enameled with the word AUSTRALIA and laurel leaves).
I do not see the crown and, while there is a central element of some sort, there does not seem to be a central ring.
Also, it looks to me a though the disk of the Order has a more defined outer border than this brooch.
Lastly, HM is usually pretty meticulous about how her orders are worn and I find it surprising that she would wear this so casually. It does not fit to me.
I think this is more of a mystery than we initial thought?????
Well spotted, they aren't exactly the same. Searching around for a high resolution photo I found the below photo which is of Prince Philip's Australian knighthood. What is interesting is that even with the knighthood the recipient gets 2 slightly different versions of the main insignia. So my thinking is that the Queen has more than one version of her order, and in 1981 she wore the more 'informal' version or setting to church?
I can now say confidently that what QEII wore in Adelaide (in the photos posted by Crowne) is definitely the badge of the Order of Australia.
One of the photos Crowne posted.
A colour image of the Queen taken after she left the Cathedral on the same day -- so taken at the same time as the photo Crowne posted.
I have no idea why QEII wore the badge on this occasion. Perhaps the government of South Australia requested it. Apparently, later in the day she and the Duke attended a b-b-q in the Adelaide Hills. Somehow I doubt she wore it then.
QEII also wore the badge, but with its bow, to a reception held at the National Art Gallery of Victoria. That event was, I believe, part of the CHOGM events.
I have been working through archive records dealing with the Order of Australia but, as not all the records I am interested in have been digitised, I still cannot find out the precise details of HM's insignia as the Sovereign head of the Order.
I strongly suspect that the Sovereign's insignia has only one item -- the large badge.
I found records which stated that the Sovereign's insignia was to be the same size as the breast badge of a Knight/Dame. (Initially Australia had such a classification until 1986). Those badges were to be in gold, jewelled and 80mm in diameter. The difference was to be that the Sovereign's badge was to be augmented to reflect the dignity of the sovereign.
I haven't been able to find out what gemstones were used in the Queen's badge. I did see a document which stated that, initially, Stuart Devlin, the designer, wanted to use Australian yellow sapphires on the badges of the Knights/Dames and the Companions.
I suspect that either so called champagne diamonds or yellow sapphires have been used.
What do others think might have been used?
As with other Orders there are rules about how items are to be worn with various styles of dress etc. One of those covers the situation where day dress is called for on occasions when official directions indicate that medals are to be worn. None of those mention what the sovereign is to do! In the case of female holders they were to use the neck badge with a medal bar. I suspect that is why the Queen wore her badge without the bow.
Yet, I have found at least one occasion when HM wore the badge with the large bow with day dress. That was from the investiture into the Order of General Peter Cosgrove, who later became the Governor General.
2000. Peter Cosgrove as a Military Companion of the Order of Australia.
Later, Peter Cosgrove, as Governor General, was made a Knight of the Order of Australia when the system was briefly revived in 2014 by the then Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.
Peter Cosgrove wearing the breast badge and neck badge in 2015.
It is not usual (in my limited experience) to see females wearing the neck badge hanging on its ribbon. But, Quentin Bryce when Governor General, did so.
Wow, thanks Beth, I love the hue of the stones in HM's badge.
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
I have been working through archive records dealing with the Order of Australia but, as not all the records I am interested in have been digitised, I still cannot find out the precise details of HM's insignia as the Sovereign head of the Order.
I strongly suspect that the Sovereign's insignia has only one item -- the large badge.
I found records which stated that the Sovereign's insignia was to be the same size as the breast badge of a Knight/Dame. (Initially Australia had such a classification until 1986). Those badges were to be in gold, jewelled and 80mm in diameter. The difference was to be that the Sovereign's badge was to be augmented to reflect the dignity of the sovereign.
I haven't been able to find out what gemstones were used in the Queen's badge. I did see a document which stated that, initially, Stuart Devlin, the designer, wanted to use Australian yellow sapphires on the badges of the Knights/Dames and the Companions.
I suspect that either so called champagne diamonds or yellow sapphires have been used.
What do others think might have been used?
As with other Orders there are rules about how items are to be worn with various styles of dress etc. One of those covers the situation where day dress is called for on occasions when official directions indicate that medals are to be worn. None of those mention what the sovereign is to do! In the case of female holders they were to use the neck badge with a medal bar. I suspect that is why the Queen wore her badge without the bow.
Yet, I have found at least one occasion when HM wore the badge with the large bow with day dress. That was from the investiture into the Order of General Peter Cosgrove, who later became the Governor General.
2000. Peter Cosgrove as a Military Companion of the Order of Australia.
Later, Peter Cosgrove, as Governor General, was made a Knight of the Order of Australia when the system was briefly revived in 2014 by the then Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.
Peter Cosgrove wearing the breast badge and neck badge in 2015.
It is not usual (in my limited experience) to see females wearing the neck badge hanging on its ribbon. But, Quentin Bryce when Governor General, did so.
on June 11, 2021, 8:07 pm
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